Thermomat silicone bread mat

[Sundari]

I searched but couldn't find anything

Do you feel the mat is essential? Do you have one? What do you use if you don't have one? Are there cheaper alternatives out there?

[~Narelle~]

I've been meaning to ask the same thing!  My consultant speaks very highly of it.  I might have a 2nd demo and get it, but wondering if it is any good.  Also - can you just buy it as an accessory?

[brazen20au]

i have the silpat one (ie: exactly the same, from thermomix but before they had their own green branded version) and i think it's fabulous. haven't tried any other brands but from googling i know there are heaps of sizes and shapes available and i wish i could afford to buy more!!!

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

I just bought a mat from my local bakeware supply store and it works really well.  It was quite big so I cut it in half so that I could use it with my baking trays.  When I'm using it with doughs I just use them both (one on bottom, one on top tucked in a little).

[brazen20au]

be careful cutting the mats up - i thought about cutting my silpat (it's too big for my oven) but a google revealed they have fibreglass inside so cutting is extremely dangerous!

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

I'm pretty sure mine said on the box that it can be trimmed to size.  I wonder if there are different types.

[baf65]

I wouldnt trim the silpat ones!  There are different types, the Silpat ones are not made to be trimmed. I bought one from Thermomix and i also bought one on US ebay (smaller size) that I use for putting in the oven
You can purchase the mats so far as I know for $60 or get one for $40 if you have a Varoma demo, well thats what it was last time I checked!

[faffa_70]

Solid thick silicone ones I think you can cut as they are made of the same stuff is the cake pans etc, the silpat mats etc you shouldn't cut as they do have fibres in them.

I couldn't live without mine now that I have it. I use it for bread, scones, pastry, biscuit dough it is endless.

Sticks nicely to the bench and doesn't move around when you are working on it  

[cookie1]

Do you use them to roll pastry etc on and are they large enough? I have an old tupperware rolling one and it's starting to split. I enquired about replacing it and was told they don't really have anything like that anymore.

[brazen20au]

cookie, they do - at time i have one but i think they only come out every few years. check on ebay (australia and america).

but yes, mine (silpat) is almost the same size

[alioop]

I have been thinking very seriously about getting one of the Thermomats too - yesterday I resorted to heating one of our wheat bag/heat packs and putting it under the bowl with the dough in it to keep it warm....it actually worked really well, but I still like (ie. want) the bread mat!

[brazen20au]

oh that's a great idea! my bread didn't rise well this morning considering it was in the minuses outside LOL

[Shayla]

Just wrap your bowl of dough in a duvet and it will rise within an hour.

[faffa_70]

I just turn my oven on the lowest setting for about 5 minutes and then turn it off. Put my bread inside my breadmat and put it inside the oven with the door every so slightly ajar..works a treat 

[brazen20au]

that's a good idea, because the GF bread recipe says to put it in at 50' but my oven switches on at 100 lol